September Events

American Studies is sponsoring several exciting events this month. First, Larry O’Dell from the Oklahoma Historical Society will be visiting Dr. Gray’s AMST3550 Tulsa Public Cultures course to talk about “The Tulsa Race Riot, A.J. Smitherman, and the Report of Tulsa Race Riot Commission.” The event is free and open to the public and will be held on Thursday, September 14 at 4:30 in North Hall 212 on the OSU Tulsa campus.

Later this month American Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, the Department of History the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and OSU Tulsa will co-sponsor two visits by renowned LGBTQ activist and scholar, Robyn Ochs.

“Loosening the Gender Girdle-How Gender Affects YOU” on Tuesday, September 26 at 6pm in the French Lounge (270 Student Union) on the OSU Stillwater campus:

What does it mean to be “a man”? What does it mean to be “a woman”? What other options are there? We will look at the ways in which we are limited by a rigid and limited binary understanding of gender, and explore how the politics of gender tie together the feminist, queer and transgender movements. Please join us, and bring your gender with you.

“Beyond the Binaries–Identity and Sexuality” on Wednesday, September 27 at 6pm in the B.S. Roberts Conference Room in North Hall (rm 151 or so) on the OSU Tulsa campus:

How do we assign labels to our complicated and unique experiences of sexuality? In this interactive program we will explore the landscape of sexuality, conduct a thought-provoking anonymous survey of those present, and look together at the data. Where do we fall on various sexuality continua? How do we label? How old were we when we came to our identities and to our sexualities? How asexual/sexual are we? How well do our friends/family members understand our sexuality? This program will expand your perspective and change the way you think about labels.

Light snacks will be provided at both events, which are free and open to the public.

Ochs is an educator, speaker, award-winning activist, and editor of the Bi Women Quarterly; and two anthologies: Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World and RECOGNIZE: The Voices of Bisexual Men. Her writings have been published in numerous bi, women’s studies, multicultural, and LGBT anthologies and she has presented workshops for hundreds of campus and community groups all over the world. She is a dynamic speaker, and the events are highly interactive, so we hope you’ll join us.

Funding for Ochs’ visits is provided in part by a grant from Oklahoma Humanities (OH), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Fae Rawdon Norris Endowment for the Humanities at OSU. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of OH, NEH, or the Norris Foundation.